Food / Groceries

Many Americans are struggling to stay on budget. Widespread unemployment means many households are having trouble making ends meet, for one. However, there are other financial impacts of COVID-19, including rapidly rising grocery prices.

How Much Grocery Prices Have Changed

Prices on many food staples have increased dramatically in recent months. In fact, the one-month price increase was the largest in 46 years, leading consumers to pay an average of 2.6 percent more at the register. The last one that outdid it was in February 1974.

Categories that saw the biggest increases included meat, fish, poultry, and eggs. When it came to eggs, the average price hike was over 16 percent.

However, other food categories aren’t unaffected. The price of apples went up by 4.9 percent, while bread and cookies rose 3.7 percent and 5.1 percent, respectively.

Beyond food, items like toilet paper and certain cleaning and medical supplies also saw rising prices. In some cases, price gouging was an issue, leading to toilet paper being sold for $10 a roll, for example.

The massive spike in demand and fast-dwindling supply created an opportunity to take advantage of desperate consumers. While many areas have laws against such activity, that doesn’t prevent it from occurring, at least in spurts. Consumers who needed those items may have had little choice but to deal with being overcharged.

Why Grocery Prices Are Increasing

In many cases, price increases are the result of a simple principle: supply and demand. Once shelter-in-place orders became the norm, and people began spending nearly all of their time in their houses, meals at home became increasingly common.

This put additional pressure on grocery stores as consumers began buying more items or in larger quantities. Inventory in some categories disappeared fast, a fact that can trigger price increases that serve as an attempt to stabilize product availability.

Additionally, grocers had to compete with each other to get products to replenish their shelves. In some cases, this leads to a bidding war, where the highest offer gets the goods. Then, the grocer raises its price on the product to recoup their investment and still turn a profit.

Shifting Workforce Needs

Price adjustments can also be attributed to shifting workforce needs. Many stores had to hire new customer service workers, shelf stockers, and cashiers in droves, leading them to offer higher pay rates to entice people to apply. In some cases, they also had to have more employees work overtime, which usually involves paying wages at time-and-a-half or more. This led to growing personnel costs, something that commonly is balanced by pricing products higher.

Then, as mentioned above, there’s the issue of price gouging. While not as rampant as it may have been initially, instances of the activity may continue until the situation calms.

Finally, there have been some mild to moderate disruptions in the supply chain. At times, producers had to shut their doors in response to the pandemic. Usually, this had nothing to do with shelter-in-place orders, as these companies easily qualify as essential businesses. The issue actually involved the virus sweeping through production facilities, causing widespread illness in the producers’ workforces and a need to disinfect contaminated surfaces.

For example, two Tyson Foods pork processing plants had to shutter in April. Plant employees tested positive for the virus, and many others feared getting sick, creating issues with maintaining a suitably sized staff to support operations.

Even production facilities that didn’t close, at times, had to operate at reduced capacity. Shipping companies felt the strain as well, delaying the arrival of replacement inventory. When the supply chain is disrupted, price hikes are almost guaranteed.

Are Grocery Price Increases Permanent?

In most cases, the grocery price increases won’t be permanent. Though, it’s important to note that falling prices are dependent on market stabilization or supply outpacing demand.

There have already been signs of this occurring for some products. For example, while eggs saw a massive price increase in April, as of mid-May, prices are moving down. In part, this is due to regulatory changes that allowed some egg producers to send product that would usually go to restaurants to grocers instead. Whether the cost will fall to pre-COVID-19 levels isn’t known, but any decrease is likely welcomed by cash-strapped consumers.

But not all categories are seeing a recovery currently. Pork prices may remain higher for a period, mainly due to the supply chain disruption. The plant closures and production level changes led some farmers to euthanize their animals since they had no place to send them. This decreased the available supply. Additionally, demand for pork exports rose, partially due to African swine fever impacting China’s supply before the coronavirus pandemic began.

Are All Prices Rising During COVID-19?

No, not all prices are increasing in response to the pandemic. Certain categories have even seen dramatic declines as people began to change their plans and habits.

For instance, gas prices tumbled as stay-at-home orders meant fewer people were on the road, significantly lowering demand. Transportation and apparel also had notable declines.

Some prices have also been relatively stable. For example, electricity rose a modest 0.1 percent, while new vehicle prices didn’t shift at all.

How to Keep Your Grocery Budget Under Control

The same techniques for controlling your grocery budget that worked pre-COVID-19 also work today. Stores are still holding sales to entice customers to choose them over competitors, so shopping around is beneficial. Using sales flyers to plan meals can also work.

Additionally, being part of a loyalty program and coupons can help you keep your costs down. In both cases, you may be able to secure discounts or deals on items you need.

It’s also important to be open-minded. Unless you have a specific requirement that makes sticking with one brand a must, consider exploring every option available in a product category, including name-brands and store-brands.

By making a change, you might be able to lower the cost of your groceries. Plus, when you factor in sales and coupons, the cheapest option may change from week-to-week, which is why you should always look before you buy.

Are changing prices straining your budget? Do you have any tips that can help people keep their grocery costs down? Share your thoughts in the comments below.

When Mother’s Day 2020 arrives, the option for going out to brunch might not be available. Some people may still be following stay-at-home orders. Even if your local economy reopens, you may not feel safe going out, or restaurants might not be fully prepared to offer a great brunch. As a result, making a Mother’s Day brunch at home might be your best bet. If you want to have an amazing one without breaking the bank, here’s how to save money on Mother’s Day brunch at home.

Look for Sales

Grocery stores and retailers that offer groceries, like Walmart and Target, often hold sales that align with holidays. You may be able to find some bargains on classic brunch foods or ingredients this Mother’s Day, so compare local deals to find the right discounts.

If you have several stores in your area, don’t be afraid to comparison shop. If the locations are close together and they offer services like curbside pickup, you could make the rounds pretty quickly, allowing you to save without having to spend a ton of time shopping.

Embrace Eggs

Eggs are a breakfast staple that won’t break the bank. The price for a few dozen eggs is pretty much always reasonable, even when they aren’t on sale.

Whether you want to serve omelets, quiche, or any other egg dish, you can offer up a fantastic meal that’s surprisingly affordable. Most of the add-ins – like onion, green pepper, and cheese – aren’t overly expensive. Plus, if you’re making the egg dish the start of the meal, splurging on a little ham or bacon to throw into the mix might be an option.

Try French Toast

When it comes to ingredients, all you really need for French toast is eggs, some stale bread, and a topping (like syrup or whipped cream). You can create a delectable treat in minutes using fairly inexpensive ingredients, making it an addition worth considering.

Have Pancakes or Waffles

Pancakes and waffles are two other brunch classics that aren’t expensive to make. Often, the number of ingredients you’d need is very minimal. In some cases, you only require pancake or waffle mix and water, though some mixes do call for eggs or oil, too. After that, it’s just toppings.

Add Some Home Fries

Potatoes are another low-cost food that most people love. If your stovetop is overrun with French toast, pancakes, or waffles, then consider adding home fries to the menu. Just cut into small cubes, coat in olive oil and some seasoning, and bake.

Make Mimosas

Mimosas can be a surprisingly inexpensive cocktail to make. Since you are mixing the champagne or sparkling wine with orange juice, you don’t have to buy the most expensive bottle around. Even a cheaper one could do the trick

Whip Up Some Breakfast Burritos

Breakfast burritos can be surprisingly affordable. Beans don’t cost much, so you can use them in place of more expensive meat. You could then skip the beef, sausage, chorizo, or chicken altogether, or simply use less, reducing the cost. Then, choose other inexpensive options like salsa, sour cream, corn, rice, and tortillas, allowing you to create a filling dish without busting your budget.

Offer Yogurt

A simple vanilla yogurt can be a nice addition to brunch. Whether you prefer regular, low-fat, or Greek varieties, it can provide some sweetness at an affordable price.

Plus, vanilla is a flexible flavor that’s easily augmented with fruits or other treats, like mini chocolate chips. It also doesn’t involve any cooking. Just put it in a nice dish, and you’re done.

Everybody is struggling to get everything they need during this coronavirus crisis. With grocery stores being overrun with panic shoppers, and anxiety about being in crowds, shopping for essentials can be difficult. While it is important to make sure you are stocked up on food and supplies, the store experience can put you at risk for disease and a massive headache. The good news about this is that grocery stores are adapting to meet your needs. ALDI, in particular, is joining forces with Instacart to offer online ordering and curbside pickup for customers who don’t want to enter the store. It is a very simple process, but here are the steps to order online and pickup groceries at ALDI’s stores.

Step 2: Pick out your groceries.

In the online store, pick out everything that you are going to need. Make sure to get all your bases covered. Food, cleaning supplies, pet care products; anything you would normally pickup at the grocery store is at your fingertips!

Step 3: Select time and place.

On the website, you will be given a list of times and ALDI locations for pickup. If your local store isn’t listed, it unfortunately isn’t a participating location, and you may need to go in-person. Make sure you double check! The time part is simple, they will need time to gather your products, so your pickup times are somewhat limited. Select when you want to pick them up and make sure you get there on time!

Step 4: Place the order.

Take one final passthrough of your cart, location, and pickup time to ensure you’ve got it all correct. Once you’re certain that everything is ready to roll, hit “Place Order” and get ready to grab your groceries!

Step 5: Pull your car up to the pickup spot.

To locate the designated pickup spot, look for a blue curbside space with a sign nearby. Read the signs and follow the instructions. Make sure you get there at a reasonable time, because they will not let your groceries sit for too long to avoid any issues with perishables.

Step 6: Grab and go!

Once you have followed the signage by your pickup spot, you can snag your products and get back home! No long lines in the store, no risk of infection, and minimal hassle. This is definitely the safe way to go, and it’s great that ALDI is offering such a convenient service. We hope you enjoy!

With the Coronavirus pandemic affecting our daily lives, some homebuyers are deciding to push the pause button on their home search and understandably so. If your immune system is compromised in any way, it’s probably not worth the risk to view properties.

If you’re planning to buy a home in Toronto or Vancouver, homes don’t come cheap there. If you’re struggling to save a down payment, cutting costs is a good place to start. For many Canadians, groceries is the second or third highest household expense.

Here are some simple ways to save money on groceries. With all the money you save while you’re waiting for the Coronavirus situation to improve, you can reach your down payment goal sooner.

Shop at Discount Grocers

How would you like to buy your groceries for less? Have you considered shopping at discount grocers? At premium stores, you’ll be nickel and dimed on everything from breakfast cereal to coffee. The savings at discount supermarkets can really add up to be a lot. By buying no-name brands you can save a pretty penny—usually 25% or more off the premium brands. By saving $20 on your grocery bill each week, it will add up to savings of over $1,000 a year.

In case you’re wondering, discounts supermarkets will often have produce and meat that is just as good quality as the so-called premium stores. You don’t have to stop shopping at your local supermarket altogether; rather, consider your other more affordable options.

Price Matching

Why pay full price for your food you enjoy when you don’t need to? You can save even more money by price matching. This is when grocers match a competitor grocer’s lower price on identical items if you point it out to them (you’ll need to show the competitor’s paper or digital flyer as proof ).

Most discount grocers price match. Price matching is something I do each week. Every week before heading to the supermarket I make a shopping list. I go through my fridge, freezer and cupboards to see what items I’m running out of. Once I have my list, I’ll look for these products in store flyers. I’ll then circle them in pen. That way when I head to the supermarket, it’s nice and easy to point out to the cashier to price match.

Buying Items on Sale in Bulk

When you see a grocery item you regularly use at a discount, take advantage of it and stock up. But before loading your cart with Kraft Dinner, remember that not all sales are the same. Look at how much money you’re really saving to figure out if it’s worth stocking up. Plus, some items that appear in the flyer might not really be on sale, so don’t get tricked. Usually items go on sale every two to three months at a particular store, so stock up so you have enough to last until the next sale and try to never pay full price.

This will be my first entry of the diary-style variety, and it is for a good reason. As a 21-year-old with no degree, a full time-job, and all of his very own bills, I think it is important to shine a light on one thing: I’m doing okay! As much as the media wants to tell you that young people are dying without free college or major social safety nets, it just isn’t true. You don’t have to game the system, milk any welfare, or strike it big to live happily in the US as a 20-something. With that said, there are some efforts I am making to ensure that I stay comfortable without finding a whole new job, or adding a side hustle to my already busy schedule. So this is about the two main ways I am growing my income in ways that any of you can replicate today!

I’m Selling My Car

I know, a scary first step. No, I’m not saying you all need to go carless to save money. In fact, that isn’t even what I’m doing. When I was 18, I had focused hard on working instead of going to school, and I had a full-time $13/hr job while still living with my parents. Up to this point, my family could never afford to get me a car– I didn’t even have my license. So once I could do it myself I got a used BMW 3 series for $10k that stuck me with a $190 car payment. This isn’t too bad a payment, but the insurance for someone my age makes my current car expenses ring in at around $380. So, to increase my usable income, I’m selling the car and buying a $2000 1990 Lincoln Town Car. No payment, and $70 liability insurance gives me around $310 more to play with each month.

Better Grocery Shopping

Today I had a little bit of time at the end of my work day, and I used it to check out my bank account. Specifically, I was looking at every time I bought food outside of my grocery shopping. Between a night out with my friend, a date with my girlfriend, the vending machine at work, and some “forgot my lunch at home” days at fast food spots, I managed to rack up about $300 in extra food expense. Noticing that the most common and preventable scenario was forgetting my lunch, my next grocery trip will be focused on good sandwich makings, meat, rice, and other packables that I can bring to work without much extra effort. Date night is important, and so is blowing off some steam with friends, but there is room to cut down. My goal for next month is to cut it down to $150, giving me the same amount in extra income to save or invest.

I hope you enjoyed this inside look into how I am bettering my situation. To all the young folks out there like me: You don’t need to have a degree or a high paying job to make it. I live in southern California, splitting rent with my girlfriend in a beautiful beach city I grew up in. No degree, no six-figure income (not even close), and no crazy internet fame. Just a reliable job and some good habits! As long as you stay smart, you can improve your situation and grow your income today!

Millions of people around the country are preparing to kick back and enjoy one of the biggest sporting events of the year – the Super Bowl. In some cases, Super Bowl parties are massive affairs involving dozens of partygoers, full food spreads, décor, and more. Whether your party is going to be big or small, finding ways to save money is always a wise move. If you need to host a cheap Super Bowl party on a budget, here are five tips to help you get started.

1. Consider a Potluck

Since food can be one of the largest expenses for any Super Bowl gathering, hosting the event as a potluck can help you stretch your budget. Plus, most partygoers will be happy to bring a dish, as it is a small thing to do to enjoy time with friends, family, and the big game.

Now, if you want your potluck to go smoothly, you may either want to assign dishes or have people announce what they want to bring in advance. This can help ensure that you don’t end up with half-a-dozen veggie platters or every attendee just bringing chips, as you can intervene if there is not enough variety or keep all of the items aligned with a theme.

Not only is a potluck cost-effective, but it can also reduce the amount of stress you experience. After all, not having to create every dish yourself is a huge weight off your shoulders.

2. Make It BYOB

If you want to have a party with adult beverages, making your Super Bowl party BYOB (bring your own booze) may be your best option. Alcohol can great incredibly expensive, so requesting that everyone bring their own can be a gamechanger for your budget.

Plus, you get the added bonus of not hearing any complaints about what kind of drinks are or are not available. You do not have to worry about anyone’s taste but your own, as they can bring what they want to drink.

However, do make a few conveniences available. For example, make sure you have plenty of ice, cups, stir sticks, corkscrews, bottle openers, and similar items on-hand and highly accessible. If you have a cocktail shaker or other barware, consider making it available as well if you are okay with the items being used during a party.

Additionally, clear out your fridge as much as possible or have a cooler filled with ice at the ready. That way, your guests can cool their drinks easily once they arrive. You may also want to give attendees a way to mark their drinks, such as a Sharpie, so they can identify which ones belong to them with greater ease.

3. Figure Out What You Have

Instead of heading straight to the store, take a moment and see what you may already own. Go through your cupboards to see what food and drink items are there and plan your menu around what you’ve already bought. Then, check closets or storage areas for decorations you may have kept from other events or a previous Super Bowl party.

Any time that you can use an item you already own is an opportunity to save money. Do not plan your shopping list until you take full stock of what you have on-hand. Otherwise, you might buy something you did not actually need.

4. Seek Out Coupons and Sales

Certain foods are incredibly popular during the Super Bowl, so stores and manufacturers offer deals to entice you to buy specific options. Before you shop, take some time to review sales flyers and find coupons. Go through your mail, get the Sunday paper, or get online to see what may be available and then plan your purchase from there.

Additionally, if you have a rewards club or other members at your supermarket, make sure to check for any unique deals that may be available. If you aren’t a member, then signing up may be wise, as it really can help you save all year-round.

5. Consider Delivery or Takeout

If you are hosting a large party, sometimes opting for delivery or takeout is actually a smart choice. Many pizza places and similar restaurants that offer takeout or delivery may run specials in conjunction with the big game, so you could actually score a pretty great deal if you compare your options.

Plus, by going with delivery or takeout, you do not have to dedicate any time to cooking. Instead, you can spend time with friends and family or handle other tasks you need to finish.

Bonus Tip: Get An Accurate Headcount

Just make sure that, before you order, you get a fairly accurate headcount. That way, you can estimate how much food you will need so you can find a deal that best suits your needs. Otherwise, if you order too much food, not only are you spending more than you needed to, but the leftovers may go to waste if you can’t finish them in a timely manner. If you didn’t order enough, you would risk needing to make an emergency food run during the game or disappointing your guests, both of which are not ideal.

Ultimately, all of the five tips above can help you host a great Super Bowl party on a budget. Consider giving one, a few, or all of them a try and see which options are best for you.

Do you have any tips for hosting an amazing Super Bowl party on a budget? Share them in the comments below.